On the corner of Main and Seventh Streets in Joplin is the Route 66 Mural Park, which includes three murals made of colorful kiln-fired porcelain.
One mural is Cruisin’ into Joplin, depicting a vintage car driving past a billboard that says, “Welcome to Joplin, Missouri. You’re on Historic Route 66.” Another mural is American Ribbon, featuring a bright green and yellow map showcasing stops along the historic route from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean. Below the map is a bifurcated red mock 1963 Corvette. The final mural is the Route 66 Tri-State Corridor, which commemorates the tri-state mining district in Joplin.
Terry Cunningham, marketing manager for Visit Joplin, MO, says the Route 66 Tri-State Corridor is his favorite mural. The mural not only commemorates the tri-state mining district of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas but also lists 25 landmarks for travelers to visit along the route in these three states.
This mural park is a great place to stretch your legs mid-road trip.
This article was originally printed in the May 2026 issue of Missouri Life.
To read more about Route 66 purchase Missouri Life’s special Route 66 issue here.
